Compare towns
Nelson vs Worcester vs Newington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Nelson | Worcester | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
831 |
939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Newington and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Newington and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,081Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Nelson School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Newington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.